During his years of guiding and fishing the Broad River, Capt. Marv Copeland’s three favorite spots were essentially the only places he fished; they are that good. He contributed most of the Broad River hotspots to the Waterproof chart No. 93F, so he highlights his three favorites.
What he looks for is a big point of land or sandbar that juts toward the ocean, and one is off Dawes Island on the west side of the Broad River, just below the SC 170 Bridge. Halfway down the island, the lower end of this long, very shallow flat holds several schools of redfish at low tide, while dolphin cruise the deep water edge, often keeping the spot-tails from getting around you on the deep side.
Copeland said you can sometimes box the fish in at the south end of the flat once the water is too shallow for them to cross the last bar. He as caught 30 fish on one tide in a small bowl of water only 30 feet wide, while worrying that they would be high and dry if the tide fell any lower. They didn’t; the tide came back in, and they swam off.
The Paris Island Split is the second major point facing the ocean that has multiple options. The one Copeland likes most is on the Beaufort River side, below the micro tower, near the mouth of the small creek. Again, this is a shallow flat with adjacent deeper water.
The third ocean-facing point is more subtle. Above the SC 170 bridge, near Hazards Creek, is a point that extends from Hogs Neck. This entire edge is a shallow, low-tide flat with several creek cuts, various holes and sand bars bordered by deeper water. Spot-tails will roam back and forth along the entire edge.
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